India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Former CBI Director M Nageshwar Rao has formally entered active politics, taking charge as the national president of the Sarvajana Sanatan Party (SSP) in Varanasi.
Rao announced his new political role from Kashi on Saturday, beginning a new chapter after nearly four decades in security, law and order and administration. He said his experience in public service had convinced him that India’s development needed to go beyond administrative reforms and remain connected to the country’s civilisational heritage.
Former CBI Director M Nageshwar Rao has taken charge as the national president of the Sarvajana Sanatan Party (SSP) in Varanasi. The party aims to build a modern India rooted in its civilisational heritage, focusing on education, health, livelihood, and cultural reconnection.
Rao said the SSP’s understanding of Sanatan was not limited to religious practice. He described it as a broader way of life based on values including truth, dharma, duty, compassion, justice, self-control, family, society and public welfare.
The party has identified four areas as the main pillars of its vision – education, health, livelihood and civilisational reconnection.
On education, the SSP wants Indian history, civilisation and traditional knowledge systems to be linked with modern and globally oriented education. Its healthcare agenda focuses on accessible and quality medical services, while also seeking to incorporate Indian health traditions alongside modern medicine.
On livelihoods, the party has said it wants to create opportunities for young people, farmers, artisans, workers, small businesses and entrepreneurs.
The fourth pillar focuses on reconnecting people with India’s languages, arts, temples, pilgrimage centres, festivals, knowledge traditions, families and cultural institutions.
‘Modern India with civilisational roots’
Rao said the party’s objective was not to take India back to the past. Instead, he said it wanted to build a modern India while retaining its connection with its civilisational heritage.
The SSP has described its broader vision as “Modern India, with its Sanatan civilizational roots”, combining technological and economic progress with cultural identity.
Rao also said Sanatan should not be viewed merely through an electoral lens. According to him, its values could have a role in areas including education, healthcare, livelihoods, governance, culture and social life.
He further stressed the importance of preserving temples and pilgrimage sites as living institutions of Indian civilisation. He called for transparency, respect and meaningful public participation in their functioning.
Rao said the party’s approach was not aimed at any particular caste or community. He said Sanatan was “not against anyone” and that the party intended to work for all sections of society rather than promote divisions.
Choosing Kashi as the starting point of his political journey, Rao said the challenge before India was to balance modern development with its civilisational foundations.
Several SSP office-bearers were present during the announcement, including National Vice President Mahant Tirthanand, Vice President Ritu Rathod, General Secretary Raja Saksham Singh Yogi, spokesperson Babita Sharma, Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rakesh Tiwari and Organisation Minister Narnarayan Singh.
